Last year the Cardinals began the season as the 32nd ranked team in the power rankings. This year they are starting at 24:
The Cardinals have earned some measured optimism, thanks to the way they steadily improved last season, while Jonathan Gannon stiff-armed many of his critics by leading a team that backed down from no one and displayed cutting-edge creativity. With Kyler Murray getting back in the saddle for last year's respectable finish and the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr., there are signs of both progress and hope. Arizona has drafted impressively the past few years, adding depth on both sides of the ball, but the biggest test remains the defense. Losing BJ Ojulari for the season and first-rounder Darius Robinson for the first part of the campaign will sting, and the division is no cakewalk. If they can make moderate improvements defensively and maintain their us-against-the-world mentality, the Cardinals could double their win total from a year ago and enter 2025 as one of the more intriguing teams on the rise.